EU/International news 2011

Date Published: 06-12-2011

6 December 2011

The European Commission adopts a Communication (COM(2011) 835), on "Enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum," which proposes reinforcing practical, technical and financial cooperation, moving towards a better allocation of responsibilities and an improved governance of the asylum system. It is intended that these steps will contribute towards the completion of the "Common European Asylum System" by 2012.
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is currently selecting members of the first EASO Consultative Forum.
The European Union's new funding programme for research and innovation – Horizon 2020 - will allocate funding to tackle the major issues affecting the lives of European citizens under its third objective "Societal challenges". One of the focuses will be on “Inclusive Societies" which includes migration.
Declaration by the Third Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development
The Council of the European Union adopts new measures creating a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the EU.
The Council of the European Union approves amendments to Asylum Qualification Directive. The Directive sets standards for the identification of people in need of international protection in the EU either as refugees or as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
The European Parliament supports measures to make it easier for people living in the Kaliningrad region to cross the border with Poland and enter neighbouring districts.
New Report from European Economic and Social Committee on "Migration and cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean Region".
Fundamental Rights Agency publish new study on "Fundamental rights of migrants in an irregular situation in the European Union".
EIPA Seminar on "Planning Workable Policies for Migrant Integration in the EU Member States", 16-17/Feb/2012, Maastricht.
The British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE) "2012 Conference on Education, Mobility and Migration: People, ideas and resources", will be held on 8-10 September, 2012 at the University of Cambridge, in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University.

18 November 2011

The European Commission has launched an EU Immigration Portal which provides up-to-date, practical information, on national and European immigration procedures and policies, to potential migrants to the EU.
Global Approach proposed by European Commission [COM(2011) 743, SEC(2011) 1353] to EU external migration and mobility policy, addresses challenges in four areas: organising and facilitating legal migration and mobility; preventing and reducing irregular migration and trafficking in human beings; promoting international protection and asylum; and maximising the development impact of migration and mobility.

15 November 2011

Monitoring of EU Law in field of Asylum and Migration by Directorate General Home Affairs (DG Home) of the European Commission provides data on infringement cases by policy and Member State.
A new European Commission report comments on the positive role that mobile workers from Bulgaria and Romania (EU-2) have played in receiving countries' economies in the context of Transitional Arrangements on Free Movement.
The European Commission (DG Home) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed a Framework Agreement to strengthen their cooperation in the area of migration and mobility.
Comparative Study on Best Practices in the Field of Forced Return Monitoring, provides Member States with information on best practice examples to support their efforts to develop an effective and transparent monitoring system of the forced return of illegally staying third-country nationals.
Recent Frontex FRAN Quarterly Report for Quarter 2 of 2011 on irregular migration trends
Fundamental Rights Agency Newsletter for November 2011 provides information about recent and forthcoming Agency activities, publications and events
PICUM will hold an international conference on “Undocumented Migrant Women in Europe: Strategies for Support and Empowerment” on 12 - 13 December 2011 at the Residence Palace, Brussels, Belgium.
Final Report in EUI-MPI Project on EU-US Immigration Systems, entitled “Shared Challenges and Opportunities for EU and US Immigration Policymakers”.
Association Européenne pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme report on EU policy regarding labour migration, entitled “Foreign workers in the EU: moving towards multiple standards, founded on unequal treatment?”

2 November 2011

The European Commission adopted the 'Smart Borders' Communication (COM(2011) 680) which sets out the main options for using new technologies to simplify procedures for travel between the EU and third countries. It is part of the Commission’s “comprehensive approach” designed to strengthen the overall governance of the Schengen area.
The European Commission formally requested 6 Member States (Germany, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Sweden) to comply with the rules of the Blue Card Directive 2009/50/EC. The associated deadline for implementation expired on 19 June 2011. The EU Blue Card Directive puts in place common rules that allow highly skilled people from outside Europe to work and live in the EU. Ireland has not opted into this Directive.
Conclusions of Justice and Home Affairs Council, 27 -28 October 2011.
The European Commission is currently undertaking a survey among immigrant communities in order to learn how the Internet and use of mobile phones foster socioeconomic integration.
The European Parliament approved the draft report agreed in July 2011 to amend the Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted (COM 2009/551).

24 October 2011

On the occasion of the 5th EU Anti-Trafficking Day (18 October), the Heads of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies issued a joint statement undertaking to address trafficking in human beings in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
The European Commission adopted a Decision (COM(2011) 7192 final) to further harmonise the issuing of short stay visas. Visa applicants from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sri Lanka and Turkey should now present the same set of documents supporting their application for a short stay visa, irrespective of which EU State consulate is in charge of examining their application.
The European Visa Information System (VIS) became operational in North Africa on 11 October 2011. VIS contains data on applications and decisions related to all short-stay visas to visit or to transit through the Schengen Area. The Visa Information System (VIS) allows Schengen States to exchange such visa data. Ireland does not participate in the VIS and does not have access to the information contained within.
The European Commission has issued a report COM(2011) 587 final on the application of Directive 2004/114/EC on the conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service. Ireland does not participate in this Directive.
The European Commission has released a report COM (2011) 585 final on the application of Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents. Ireland does not participate in this Directive.

27 September 2011

Latest Eurostat release shows an increase of asylum applicants in EU-27 during the first
quarter of 2011, mainly due to the sharp increase of applicants from Tunisia since February 2011.
The European Commission has put forward several proposals to consolidate and further strengthen the existing framework for dialogue and cooperation with its Eastern Partners, including work on thematic priorities and establishment of a migration information network between migration authorities COM(2011) 564.
The European Commission proposed to strengthen the EU's area without internal borders by enhancing the evaluation and monitoring of the application of the Schengen rules and by setting out a mechanism for the reintroduction of some internal border controls as a last resort. No decision was taken by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen.
The European Commission have released the first progress reports on the implementation by the Republic of Moldova and by Ukraine of their respective Action Plans on Visa Liberalisation
The European Commission recommends to open negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Latest newsletter from PIDOP project provides update on processes which influence democratic ownership and participation in eight European states – Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the UK.

26 September 2011

The European Parliament adopted the European Commission's proposal to strengthen the European Union's border management agency (Frontex). As a result, Frontex will have more equipment and personnel from Member States at its disposal, thus enabling it to better coordinate the border patrol operations of EU Member States.
The Fundamental Rights Agency Newsletter – September 2011 provides information about recent Agency activities, publications and events.
PICUM's September 2011 Bulletin provides an update on the issue of undocumented migrants in Europe and the rest world

5 September 2011

The latest Migration Policy Centre Newsletter (July 2011) includes information on recent events, projects and publications
The Migration Policy Group's recent Migration News Sheet includes an article on the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) being asked by Austria’s Supreme Administrative Court (VGH) to clarify further the rights of third-country nationals who are family members of EU citizens (not having exercised the right of free movement) in view of Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) which spells out the advantages of citizenship of the Union
PICUM's August 2011 Bulletin provides an update of what has been happening on the issue of undocumented migrants in Europe and the rest world

20 July 2011

The European Parliament agrees on amended Directive on standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
The European Commission adopts 'European Agenda for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals' to enhance the economic, social and cultural benefits of migration in Europe and publish results of first ever Eurobarometer on integration
The European Parliament agree on the Single Permit Directive: single residence and work permit, as first step towards common European policy on economic migration
Regulation (EU) No 493/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 amends Council Regulation (EC) No 377/2004 on the creation of an immigration liaison officers network
The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee produced a draft report on the proposal for a directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of seasonal employment
Draft Report by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on the proposal for a directive on conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer
The European Parliament's Civil, Justice and Home Affairs Committee approved the proposal to amend the Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted (COM 2009/551)
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Communication on migration (COM(2011) 248 final)
New Fundamental Rights Agency Report on “Migrants in an irregular situation employed in domestic work: Fundamental rights challenges for the European Union and its Member States”
Latest Fundamental Rights Agency Newsletter – July 2011 provides information about recent and forthcoming Agency activities, publications and events
EIPA Seminar on Making Sense of Migration Statistics: Comparing Data and Practical Application, takes place in Maastricht (NL), 13-14 October 2011,
Academy of European Law Meeting on recent developments in EU Labour Migration law - Focus on highly-skilled migration from third countries takes place in Brussels on 28 October 2011
UNESCO publication on "Migration and Climate Change"

30 June 2011

Overview of key EU Migratory statistics by European Migration Network.

24 June 2011

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached political agreement on the draft amending regulation concerning the European Agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the EU (Frontex).
On 19 June, the official inauguration of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) took place in Valetta, Malta. The EASO was established with the aim of enhancing practical cooperation on asylum matters, and helping Member States fulfil their European and international obligations to give protection to people in need.
A new Eurostat study on 'Indicators of Immigrant Integration' has been published. The aim of this pilot study on common indicators of immigrant integration is to identify to what extent existing harmonized survey data sources can provide adequate data on migrant populations and to identify where the indicators cannot reliably be produced due to limitations in the data sources.
FRA launched its Annual Report 2010, “Fundamental rights: challenges and achievements in 2010” which charts the progress made in 2010 by the EU and its Member States towards securing the rights guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights through developments in legislation, policies and practices.
ILO adopts Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The Convention, and accompanying Recommendation, aim to protect and improve the working and living conditions of domestic workers worldwide - estimated to number anywhere between 53 million and 100 million.

16 June 2011

New EMN Synthesis Report published on "Satisfying Labour Demand through Migration".
Eurostat project EU27 population to peak by around 2040 with strongest population growth forecast for Ireland, Luxembourg and Cyprus.
Recent Eurostat release shows that 776,000 persons granted EU citizenship by EU27 in 2009
The European Commission Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum (2010) conclusions were adopted by Justice and Home Affairs Council. The Report tracks implementation of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, as well as relevant components of the Stockholm Programme.
Latest Fundamental Rights Agency Newsletter – June 2011 provides information about recent Agency activities, publications and events.
Second edition of IOM Glossary on Migration provides a mutual understanding of global migration terms.
Latest from the Office of Immigration Statistics and Department of Homeland Security, USA on Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2010, U.S. Legal Permanent Residents: 2010, Profiles on Legal Permanent Residents, and Persons Obtaining Legal Permanent Resident Status: Fiscal Years 1820 to 2010.
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ceilia Malmström releases a statement on the 26th anniversary of Schengen.

2 June 2011

The European Commission presents modified proposals on Reception Conditions and the Asylum Procedures Directives.

1 June 2011

A Report of the Group of Eminent Persons of the Council of Europe on "Living together: Combining diversity and freedom in 21st century Europe", analyses the seriousness of the risks, identifies their sources and makes a series of proposals for 'living together' in open European societies.
A recent article from The Economist on Brain Drain or Gain and book on migration entitled “The future of mobility” predicts that the next big wave of migration will come from Africa.
A Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies conference: "Young Migrant Women in Secondary Education: Promoting Integration and Mutual Understanding through Dialogue and Exchange" take place on 16 June 2011 at the University of Nicosia. Further information from: info@medinstgenderstudies.org.
A Joint EUI-MPI project conference on "Shared Challenges in the European Union and the United States: Emerging From the Crises", will take place on Wednesday 15 June 2011 in Brussels, Belgium. The conference will focus on the outcomes of the "Improving EU and US Immigration Systems Capacity for Responding to Global Challenges: Learning from experiences".

27 May 2011

The European Commission release Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum (2010). The Report tracks implementation of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, as well as relevant components of the Stockholm Programme.

24 May 2011

European Commission decisions on migration and visa policy

The European Commission is proposing a package of measures aimed at a better management of migration flows from the Southern Mediterranean region as well as amendments to the Visa Regulation.

The measures include:

A European Commission Communication on a Dialogue for migration, mobility and security with the Southern Mediterranean countries COM(2011)292 which proposes to establish Dialogues on Migration, Mobility and Security with the North African countries. Read more
The Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum (2010) COM(2011) 291. The report highlights developments during 2010 at EU and national level in asylum, migration and integration. Read more
A proposal to amend EU Regulation 539/2001 COM(2011)290 on visas. The proposed amendments to the Regulation on visa requirements and exemptions for nationals of third countries aim at better managing the movement of third country nationals while ensuring that visa free travel does not lead to irregularities or abuse. Read more

For more information:

See European Commission Press Release (24 May 2011)
View European Commission staff working paper accompanying Annual report on Immigration and Asylum COM(2011)291
See European Commission DG Home Affairs news

17 May 2011

The Europe Union’s population is decreasing but recent UN Population projections predict that the world's population will surpass 7 billion at the end of October and level out at 10.1 billion by 2100.
HUMA Network report entitled Access to Health Care for Undocumented Migrants and Asylum Seekers presents the results of multi-disciplinary research into access to healthcare for asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Cyprus, Malta, Poland and Romania.

9 May 2011

The European Court of Justice rule that EU citizens, who have never exercised their right of free movement, cannot invoke Union citizenship to regularise the residence of their non-EU spouse.

4 May 2011

The European Commission Communication on Migration COM(2011) 248 includes initiatives for a more ‘structured, comprehensive, rapid-response approach from the EU to the challenges and opportunities of migration'.
Latest Fundamental Rights Agency Newsletter provides information about the Agency's activities, publications, events, job opportunities and social media initiatives.
Background note from the ACP Observatory on Migration on the topic of Remittances in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries provides reliable information on several topics and identifies recommendations and good practices to harness the positive impact of South-South migration for Development.
The Centre for European Policy Studies recent policy brief on Labour Immigration Policy in the EU: A Renewed Agenda for Europe 2020, examines the incoherencies characterising the current generation of EU labour immigration policies and the challenges of ensuring a global rights-based approach to migration.
Labour Migration Academy: Enhancing Protection, Promoting Development and Facilitating Governance takes place from 4-15 July 2011 in Turin (Italy). The Academy reviews and analyses key issues, strategies, policies and tools for governing international labour migration and protection of migrant workers and their families.
Odysseus Summer School on Immigration and Asylum Policy of the European Union takes place in Brussels from 4-15 July 2011. The aim of the Summer School is to provide its participants with a comprehensive understanding of the immigration and asylum policy of the European Union from a legal point of view.
The Migration Policy Centre (MPC) "Improving EU and US Immigration Systems” project recently produced a background paper entitled “Social Cohesion Challenges in Europe”.
Recent report by the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) on “Pay-to-Go Schemes and Other Noncoercive Return Programs: Is Scale Possible?" looks at policies designed to encourage return of non-authorised immigrants to their home countries.

1 May 2011

1 May 2011 sees end of transitional period following 2004 EU enlargement for workers from eight EU Member States.

13 April 2011

The Justice and Home Affairs Council discussed migration and border related issues concerning the situation in the Southern neighbourhood region and adopted conclusions
European Commission Communication COM(2011) 160 on 2010 Report on the Application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights embodies in a single, coherent and legally-binding
instrument the fundamental rights which are binding upon the EU institutions and bodies.
European Commission Communication COM(2011) 173 on an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 sets out EU's strategy for the integration of the Roma people.
European Commission public consultation on the Global Approach to Migration
A Fundamental Rights Agency report on "Access to justice in Europe: an overview of challenges and opportunities" provides an EU-wide comparative analysis of the effectiveness of access to justice, across the EU Member States.
A Migration Policy Institute publication on "A New Architecture for Border Management" looks at the emergence of new border architecture to facilitate mobility and manage risks associated with border control.

1 April 2011

The European Institute of Public Administration are holding a seminar entitled Free Movement of Persons, Recognition of Qualifications and Social Security Rights on 23-24 June 2011 in Maastricht
A Fundamental Rights Agency report on “Coping with a fundamental rights emergency – The situation of persons crossing the Greek land border in an irregular manner” identifies the factors contributing to the situation where the coordination of local responses in the Evros region represents a key problem.
A Recent newsletter by the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) provides a number of articles/reports on Unaccompanied Minors, healthcare and irregular migrants
The European Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs funded a project on Best Practice In Promoting Mental Health In Socially Marginalized People In Europe (PROMO) which looks at the delivery of health and social care for people with mental health illness including irregular migrants and people with refugee or asylum seeking status

23 March 2011

The European Court of Justice rules on rights of non-EU parents of a child with European citizenship to live in the EU (case of Zambrano v Office national de l’emploi)
The first comprehensive guide to European non-discrimination law, published jointly by the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and the European Court of Human Rights was launched on 21st March 2011
The latest edition of the Migration Policy Group, Migration news sheet e-newsletter March 2011, now available

14 March 2011

The European Commission adopt General Report on the activities of the European Union 2010. Chapter 2 covers asylum, immigration and border management
A European Commission Communication COM(2011) 200 on a Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity, with the Southern Mediterranean includes capacity building in the Mediterranean countries on borders, migration and asylum
A European Commission Communication COM(2011) 118 proposes to amend the Schengen Borders Code with the aim of facilitating the movement of people across EU internal and external borders in a controlled manner
The European Parliament adopt a Resolution on ‘Reducing health inequalities in the EU’ in which it calls on Member States to tackle health inequalities in access to health care for undocumented migrants
A European Court of Justice ruling on the stand-still clause of EU-Turkey Association Council decision prohibits Member States from introducing new restrictions on access to the labour market
Recent UNESCO journal entitled "Current Issue of Diversities on Female Migration Outcomes: Human Rights Perspectives"

10 March 2011

Migration Policy Institute publication on Filling Labor Shortages through Immigration: An Overview of Shortage Lists and their Implications
World Economic Forum report entitled Global Talent Risk – Seven Responses
European Policy Centre Working Paper No. 35 on Temporary and circular migration: opportunities and challenges
Information relating to the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas
European Commission DG Research fund PIDOP project to examine the processes which influence democratic ownership and participation in eight European states – Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the UK.

1 March 2011

European Commission adopt a communication COM(2011) 76 evaluating the implementation of the EU Readmission Agreements and assessing the ongoing readmission negotiations. Several recommendations are made for a renewed EU readmission policy including ideas from improving the safeguards of fundamental rights of returnees.
Frontex launch Operation 'Hermes' to assist Italian authorities manage the inflow of migrants from North Africa, particularly arrivals from Tunisia, on the island of Lampedusa.
The European Commission adopted a second report assessing the application of rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States. See COM(2011) 47.

3 February 2011

European Commission Communication COM(2011)18 on "Tackling early school leaving. A key contribution to the Europe 2020 Agenda"
Fundamental Rights Agency published its first report on multiple discrimination: EU-MIDIS Data in Focus 5: ‘Multiple Discrimination' which focuses on perceptions of multiple discrimination experiences by respondents of ethnic or immigrant origin, compared with the general population
European Commission Joint Research Centre publication on ICT for learning the host country's language by adult migrants in the EU
Centre on Migration, Policy and Society Working Paper No. 79 on Migration and Climate Change: an Overview
UNESCO publication on Migrating Alone: Unaccompanied and Separated Children’s Migration to Europe
Economist article on Islam and Demography

28 January 2011

Commissioner Malmström presents Action Plan on visa liberalisation with the Republic of Moldova
European Court of Human Rights ruling on the transfer of asylum seekers under the EU Dublin Regulation: Case of M.S.S. v. Belgium and Greece and the European Commission's response following the judgement
Launch of the SCOOP initiative: Socio-economic and Humanities Research for Policy, a free monthly News Alert Service supported by the European Union under the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) 7th Framework Programme for Research. SCOOP is specifically designed to inform policy makers and the media on research findings within the SSH programme and to support evidence-based policy making
Migration Policy Institute publication on Immigration Policy and lesser skilled workers in the USA.

24 January 2011

A conference on "Statistics for policymaking: Europe 2020" organised by the European Commission (Eurostat) will take place on 10 & 11 March 2011 in Brussels
IOM Independent Network of Labour Migration and Integration Experts release an online study on Migration, Employment and Labour Market Integration Policies in the European Union (2000-2009)
The OECD release a global bilateral database on international migrants (DIOC-E) which provides migration data for OECD and non-OECD countries.
Latest World Bank study on Labor Mobility for the Poor: Is it Really Possible? offers guidance on how to design and implement a migration scheme that is beneficial for both host and source countries.
The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Observatory on Migration report on its launching event (25-27 October 2010)
Recent publication on Migration and Welfare in the 'new' Europe offers an overview, analysis, and understanding of challenges for the European migration-social policy nexus.

7 January 2011

The Justice and Home Affairs Council set out priorities for the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The European Commission are holiding a public consultation on European Union funding in the area of home affairs after 2013 aimed at gathering information on how well the financial instruments meet the needs of the home affairs policy area, how efficient they are and how they can be improved to meet future needs and bring more added value.
New website to help fight human trafficking launched.
A recent publication on "The Negotiation of the Return directive" provides insight into the development of EU Return Directive.
The European Commission are holiding a public consultation on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive aimed at gathering stakeholders’ views on a modernisation of the Directive.

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